2014 Portland Roadster Show

From its beginning in 1956 the Portland Roaster Show has had the reputation of being one of the best shows in the country, and this year's addition continued the tradition. Owned and produced by the Multnomah Hot Rod Council, the Portland Roadster Show always has outstanding cars, trucks, and motorcycles along with a variety of additional features.

This year's show at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center took place Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16, 2014. A host of celebrities were on hand, including King of the Customizers, George Barris, and the leader in the custom car movement, John D'Agostino. Also there signing autographs were Candy Clark and Cindy Williams from American Graffiti, while pinstripers from around the country competed for honors in the Rose City Brush Bash. On Saturday the Bob Paeth Portland Classic Model Car Contest, sponsored by the SABA (Scale Auto Builders Association) held the "You build it, you take it" event for the kids in Hall C.

A tradition at the Portland Roadster Show is the recognition the efforts of the Portland and Vancouver area high school students. Each school has an annual contest to choose the hottest ride and those winners are on display. Show attendees then picked a favorite.

As expected a show of this caliber has the country's finest show cars from the best builders on display competing for awards, including Grand Sweepstakes Rose Cup and $10,000 for the highest overall points vehicle at that year's show; World Cup Of Hot Rodding and $5,000 for '48 and earlier roadsters, convertibles, cabriolets, coupes, sedans, and custom-crafted rods; King of Customs trophy and $3,000 for vehicles manufactured from 1941-72 with radical body modifications; Bill Peterson Award and $500 for the best all-steel '32 Ford; Dee Wescott Memorial Award given by the Multnomah Hot Rod Council to an individual for contributions to the community or the Multnomah Hot Rod Council and the Portland Roadster Show; and finally ISCA class awards.

While the Portland Roadster Show has all the expected elements to be a success something that makes it special and puts it a rung above similar events is the huge contingent of the beautifully built, down-to-earth traditional hot rods the Northwest is known for. Take a look at the following photos and if you don't agree, then make arrangements to check it out for yourself in 2015.

2/33Jerry and Josie Kjensrud own this '39 Chevy called "Halo"—it's a former Street Rodder Premium feature car.

9/33Our friend Jim Lindsay was on hand selling his new novel The Little Bastards. It's available from JimLindsayAuthor.com or Amazon.com.

16/33Pete & Janet Emery built this '36 as a tribute to Stan Baker, who originally sectioned the tub 2-1/2 inches. C5 Corvette suspension is used at all four corners along with Halibrand wheels. Power comes from a 427-inch small.

23/33One of the more unusual cars in the Gasser class was Steve Canton' 1963 Corvair with a blown 383 Chevy in what was once the trunk.

30/33Clyde Wooten's '58 Pontiac has all the cool touches to make it a perfect mild custom—it's been nosed and decked, lowered, and covered with perfect chrome, paint, and tasteful scallops. Inside is a rolled and pleated interior and we dig the pleated fenderwell treatment.